Geek Review – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition

It has been more than a decade since we last saw the big-screen version of the excellent graphic novel series of the same name, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. It was followed up by a video game that was arguably even better in all respects, bringing a beat’ em up experience that was unrivalled for its excellence in both gameplay and design. Unfortunately, licensing issues saw the game yanked from existence until now, with Ubisoft unleashing the remastered goodness that is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition. 

If the name does not already make it clear, players will be following the titular Scott Pilgrim in his quest to romance his new love, Ramona Flowers. This will require some fisticuffs, and more iconically, the showdowns against seven of her evil exes. 

Just like other classical 2D side-scrolling beat ‘em up, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition will have you fighting your way across Toronto, Canada. Expect waves of cannon fodder enemies to wallop on, before facing off against impressive bosses on each stage.

The enemy design in the game remains a delight, running the gamut from emo kids, hipsters, to adorable mascots that need to be taught a lesson. The stages are amazing to look at as well. The retro art style definitely fits the game to a tee, and it all works to make a Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition a visual powerhouse.

As Scott, Ramona,  Knives Chau, Wallace Wells, or the other playable characters, you will earn yourself some precious experience as you emerge victorious from every fight. Levelling up grants new abilities, but progressions extends to more than just that.

Eating food is also a core part of the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition experience. Not only does it heal you and grants Gut Points for life-saving and special moves purposes, but can also grant characters permanent boosts to their stats. The Strength, Defense, and other stats will be key to your battle against the forces of evil exes.

Throughout the different levels, you can find food establishments such as coffee shops and food carts. Spend your money wisely, and you could be building a solid foundation to win the fights ahead.

However, these are not the only places of interest. There are hidden entrances to the Subspace Highway to be found as well. The area is a world where flying piggy banks and money blocks reside. Destroy those and you can earn yourself a hefty sum that can be used for expenses. 

Players will definitely need all the help they can get in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition, as the difficulty spikes can be frustratingly frequent. For those who love farming and grinding, it will not be a problem. For the rest, the need for grinding can be a huge turnoff. 

The challenge can be made more accessible with the help of co-op partners. Together with three friends online or through local co-op, you can light up the streets and help each other out. Multiplayer sessions in the game allow for the revival of allies, and more impressively, super attacks that clear out the entire screen. If you need a loan, your allies can even drop some cash for you.

Aside from the main story campaign for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition, Ubisoft have thrown in both the Knives Chau and Wallace Wells add-on packs for the game. 

In addition, there are Extra-Game Modes that can extend your offline enjoyment as well. A Boss Rush mode is always good to test those skills, while there are mini-games to have some harmless fun without the fighting.

To cap it all off, the amazing soundtrack provided by American chiptune band Anamanaguchi is simply astounding. Every single song on the game is a love letter to retro tunes, and a perfect fit for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition.

For a remaster, Ubisfot has refreshed the formula when it comes to Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition, and it shows. A definitive package that brings back the fun of the game and nostalgic visuals and tunes, albeit, with some difficulty adjustments needed, this is a beat ‘em up for the ages.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition is available on the PlayStation Store for $19.90.